Changes in social psychological and functional variables among older people attending a day care center

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo.Background: Older people attending day care centers improve their social activities, perception of quality of life and reduce their institutionalization rate and risk of mortality in the medium term. Aim: To evaluate the changes in the integral geriatric assessment and frailty of a group of older people attending a day care center in Santiago. Material and Methods: Health self-perception, integral geriatric assessment, Barthel scale, frailty indicators, mini-mental state scale, Yesavage depression score and a scale about solitude perception were evaluated in 35 participants aged 73 ± 6 years on admission and at discharge from a day care center for older people. Results: At discharge, significant improvements were observed for depression, perception of social support and physical frailty. However, no changes in functional status, cognitive function and perception of solitude were observed. Conclusions: Older people attending improve their perception of social support and decrease their frailty and depression scores.https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-98872018000800864&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=e

Elderly day care centers: Recommendations for improvement

Indexación: Scopus.Introduction: Chile has become a country that continues to grow at an accelerated pace. One of the key pieces of the Comprehensive Policy for Positive Aging for Chile is the development of Day Centers for the Elderly (CDPM) directed elderly at the foot of the dependency. Objective: To know the perception of a group of PMs, their caregivers and professionals of their participation in the CDPM with the purpose of designing recommendations to improve this new type of geriatric service established in the country. Methodology: Qualitative descriptive study performed in 30 participants through 4 focus groups: 2 in elderly (n=12), 1 with caregivers (n=8) and 1 with center professionals (n=10). Results: Two main comprehensive categories were identified: 1) Perception of benefits for elderly: improvement of functionality, increase of well-being and insertion of the social mayor, 2) Recommendations for improvement of CDPM: Criteria for inclusive income, flexibility and diversity in activities stipulated and Improvements in egress. Conclusions: The elderly, their caregivers and the professionals who attend them are consistent in pointing out that elderly assistance to this type of service reports benefits in its functionality, well-being and social insertion. This study contributes to broadening the understanding of results in the uses of CDPM by reporting an experience in a particular social context. © 2018 Spanish Publishers Associate. All rights reserved.Introduction: Chile has become a country that continues to grow at an accelerated pace. One of the key pieces of the Comprehensive Policy for Positive Aging for Chile is the development of Day Centers for the Elderly (CDPM) directed elderly at the foot of the dependency. Objective: To know the perception of a group of PMs, their caregivers and professionals of their participation in the CDPM with the purpose of designing recommendations to improve this new type of geriatric service established in the country. Methodology: Qualitative descriptive study performed in 30 participants through 4 focus groups: 2 in elderly (n=12), 1 with caregivers (n=8) and 1 with center professionals (n=10). Results: Two main comprehensive categories were identified: 1) Perception of benefits for elderly: improvement of functionality, increase of well-being and insertion of the social mayor, 2) Recommendations for improvement of CDPM: Criteria for inclusive income, flexibility and diversity in activities stipulated and Improvements in egress. Conclusions: The elderly, their caregivers and the professionals who attend them are consistent in pointing out that elderly assistance to this type of service reports benefits in its functionality, well-being and social insertion. This study contributes to broadening the understanding of results in the uses of CDPM by reporting an experience in a particular social context.http://www.gerokomos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/29-1-2018-009.pd

Cash-Only Real Estate Transactions and Property Prices in San Francisco, California

In recent years, there has been the common shared belief that international investors and other buyers of real estate in cash-only transactions have exercised an upward pressure in property prices in the city of San Francisco in California, the consequence being the crowding-out on buyers requiring access to credit. This paper examines real estate prices and cash sales for the period beginning after the last recession to the year 2015, as well as other significant drivers since the year 1998. The results suggest a contradiction to the cash-only claim, at the same time that they reveal a strong relationship between the technology sector and the real estate prices in the city

Cash-Only Real Estate Transactions and Property Prices in San Francisco, California

In recent years, there has been the common shared belief that international investors and other buyers of real estate in cash-only transactions have exercised an upward pressure in property prices in the city of San Francisco in California, the consequence being the crowding-out on buyers requiring access to credit. This paper examines real estate prices and cash sales for the period beginning after the last recession to the year 2015, as well as other significant drivers since the year 1998. The results suggest a contradiction to the cash-only claim, at the same time that they reveal a strong relationship between the technology sector and the real estate prices in the city

All Things Considered: The Interaction of the Reasons for the Financial Crisis

The present paper reviews the causes that led to the financial crisis. Unlike other interpretations, this paper does not place main significance on a single source or on a set of causes. I consider all major standpoints highlighted by research and media prior, during and after the financial market turmoil in 2007. When evidence permits, reasons are validated and their potential consequences are reviewed by means of reductio ad absurdum, specifically by proof by contradiction. This analysis proposes arguments that are in favor and against a specific source whenever applicable, so as to address each cause’s major implications and deterrents. Ultimately, this analysis reveals through graph theory the interconnections among the analyzed sources for the crisis and their forbearance as a cluster that projected the final downturn

All Things Considered: The Interaction of the Reasons for the Financial Crisis

The present paper reviews the causes that led to the financial crisis. Unlike other interpretations, this paper does not place main significance on a single source or on a set of causes. I consider all major standpoints highlighted by research and media prior, during and after the financial market turmoil in 2007. When evidence permits, reasons are validated and their potential consequences are reviewed by means of reductio ad absurdum, specifically by proof by contradiction. This analysis proposes arguments that are in favor and against a specific source whenever applicable, so as to address each cause’s major implications and deterrents. Ultimately, this analysis reveals through graph theory the interconnections among the analyzed sources for the crisis and their forbearance as a cluster that projected the final downturn

HERPETOFAUNA DEL RANCHO LAS PAPAS, JALISCO, LLANURAS DE OJUELOS-AGUASCALIENTES, MÉXICO

As part of a project focused on evaluating the potential of modified habitats for biological conservation in the Llanos de Ojuelos-Aguascalientes physiographic subprovince in central Mexico, we inventoried the amphibians and reptiles of Rancho Las Papas, Jalisco, between May 1999 and September 2005. This ranch contains grassland, native and cultivated nopaleras (communities of prickly pear, Opuntia spp.), ravine xerophyllous scrub, and ephemeral and permanent water bodies. In this ranch we have documented 5 species of amphibians and 13 of reptiles, 9 of which are protected by the Mexican government. Our data show that relatively small areas that area subject to agriculture and animal ranching have a conservation potential for amphibians and reptiles under certain land management schemes. It is possible to preserve the region´s herpetofauna in ways that are compatible with productive activities.Como parte de un proyecto para evaluar el potencial que los hábitats modificados tienen para la conservación biológica en la subprovincia fisiográfica de los Llanos de Ojuelos-Aguascalientes de la Mesa Central, entre mayo de 1999 y septiembre de 2005 inventariamos los anfibios y reptiles del Rancho Las Papas, Jalisco, México. El rancho incluye hábitat de pastizal, nopaleras silvestres y cultivadas, matorral xerófilo en una cañada y cuerpos de agua efímeros y permanentes. En este rancho hemos documentado 5 especies de anfibios y 13 de reptiles, de las cuales 9 están incluidas en la NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001. Los datos muestran que áreas relativamente pequeñas y sujetas a agricultura y ganadería tienen un potencial de conservación para anfibios y reptiles bajo ciertas pautas de manejo. Es posible preservar la herpetofauna de la región de forma compatible con el uso del suelo para la producción de satisfactores antrópicos

Absolute kinematics of radio source components in the complete S5 polar cap sample. IV. Proper motions of the radio cores over a decade and spectral properties

We have carried out a high-precision astrometric analysis of two very-long-baseline-interferometry (VLBI) epochs of observation of the 13 extragalactic radio sources in the complete S5 polar cap sample. The VLBI epochs span a time baseline of 10 years and enable us to achieve precisions in the proper motions of the source cores up to a few micro-arcseconds per year. The observations were performed at 14.4 GHz and 43.1 GHz, and enable us to estimate the frequency core-shifts in a subset of sources, for which the spectral-index distributions can be computed. We study the source-position stability by analysing the changes in the relative positions of fiducial source points (the jet cores) over a decade. We find motions of 0.1-0.9 mas among close-by sources between the two epochs, which imply drifts in the jet cores of approximately a few tens of micro-as per year. These results have implications for the standard Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN) jet model (where the core locations are supposed to be stable in time). For one of our sources, 0615+820, the morphological and spectral properties in year 2010, as well as the relative astrometry between years 2000 and 2010, suggest the possibility of either a strong parsec-scale interaction of the AGN jet with the ISM, a gravitational lens with ~1 mas diameter, or a resolved massive binary black hole

Educational innovation with the use of gamification and robotics

Motivar e interesar al alumnado en el estudio de las asignaturas STEM (en inglés Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) es un nuevo reto para la Unión Europea. Se presenta un proyecto de investigación H2020 que se está desarrollando actualmente en cinco países europeos (Finlandia, Bielorrusia, Grecia, Alemania y España) y que pretende promover el gusto por el estudio de estas asignaturas entre el alumnado de 10 a 18 años. El proyecto tiene una duración de 3 años y para establecer los principios pedagógicos se ha llevado a cabo un estudio de corte eminentemente cualitativo a través del análisis de grupos focales, formados por alumnado, profesorado, padres y representantes de empresas del sector. Se dan a conocer las líneas generales del proyecto, así como la metodología empleada y las actuaciones llevadas a cabo a través de grupos focales y entrevistas a expertos. Se está desarrollando una investigación para conocer las preferencias de los estudiantes al abordar las materias STEM del currículum. Los resultados, hasta el momento, muestran la necesidad del estudiante de sentir alegría por el estudio y el aprendizaje.Motivating and interesting students in the study of STEM subjects (in English Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) is a new challenge for the European Union. It presents a research project H2020 that is currently being developed in five European countries (Finland, Belarus, Greece, Germany and Spain) and that aims to promote a taste for the study of these subjects among students from 10 to 18 years. The project has a duration of 3 years and to establish the pedagogical principles, an eminently qualitative study has been carried out through the analysis of focus groups, formed by students, teachers, parents and representatives of companies in the sector. The general lines of the project are presented, as well as the methodology used and the actions carried out through focus groups and interviews with experts. An investigation is being developed to know the preferences of the students when approaching the STEM subjects of the curriculum. The results, so far, show the student’s need to feel joy of learning.peerReviewe

Very High Angular Resolution Science with the Square Kilometre Array

Preliminary specifications for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) call for 25% of the total collecting area of the dish array to be located at distances greater than 180 km from the core, with a maximum baseline of at least 3000 km. The array will provide angular resolution ~ 40 - 2 mas at 0.5 - 10 GHz with image sensitivity reaching < 50 nJy/beam in an 8 hour integration with 500 MHz bandwidth. Given these specifications, the high angular resolution component of the SKA will be capable of detecting brightness temperatures < 200 K with milliarcsecond-scale angular resolution. The aim of this article is to bring together in one place a discussion of the broad range of new and important high angular resolution science that will be enabled by the SKA, and in doing so, address the merits of long baselines as part of the SKA. We highlight the fact that high angular resolution requiring baselines greater than 1000 km provides a rich science case with projects from many areas of astrophysics, including important contributions to key SKA science.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure